Horizontal Boring Productivity

[Jestergold]

I am currently in negotiations with a contractor about the price of horizontal boring for the installation of 24" steel casing pipe. He's telling me that he can do 40 LF per day, but I am skeptical. The soil is Class SM and wet, but not quite to the water table. We are going approximately 200 LF and under a major highway. I've seen productivity rates vary from 20 feet per day to 100 feet per day. Any one out there who knows what to expect for productivity on a site like this?

 

[civilperson]

Why doubt the expert? His price has factored in the rate of advancement as well as mobilization and demob. If you are worried, put in a liquidated damages clause after 8 days or whatever you think is needed.

 

[cvg]

put in a contingency also so in case he doesn't make 40' per day, you can cover his change order claim

 

[Jestergold]

Well, unfortunately for me I can't put in a contingency because this is a deduct change order - so the work is not actually going to be done. Secondly, as much as I would like to grant him his productivity rate, it is his job to make this cost as low as possible, it is mine to protect my client in making sure that we get as close to real numbers as possible.

In this case, mobilization and demobilization is not really an issue. The contractor must mobilize to install the pipe either way.

 

[cvg]

without far more information, you can't get a good productivity number from this forum. Your contractor is the expert, and 40' per day doesn't sound unreasonable. In fact it seems conservative by your own admission that you have seen rates from 20' - 100' per day. I doubt you can get a better answer as boring rates are generally SWAGS until the project gets under way.

 

[civilperson]

The mobilization of open cut vs boring is not similar. The rails, jacking/augering apparatus set up and reaction block installation is not like unloading a CAT 225 excavator. If you want to spend time in arbitration over something this petty you are doing your client wrong. Give the contractor credit for professionalism and honesty until proven otherwise.

 

[Jestergold]

The mobilization charge for the work he is doing is the same, and he's agreed to that. The work will not be done open cut either way. In the first instance, he would have had to install 24" steel pipe under a highway. In the second, he is installing it in an existing steel pipe.